Centuries-old ‘cupping’ therapy becomes trend

With the Olympics in full swing, athletes focused new attention on the centuries old practice of cupping.

The form of therapy uses heat and suction, and according to some, it promotes blood circulation that helps repair the body.

The technique has been used by athletes like swimmer Michael Phelps and gymnast Alexander Naddour, but it’s also been used by the New York Mets baseball team and even the U.S. military.

The practice of cupping has been recorded in the oldest of medical textbooks for thousands of years.

“Cupping has been used in Mexico, China and Europe for over 5,000 years,” said Juan Estrada, a licensed massage therapist.

His client, Martin Rodriguez, recently underwent a cupping session.

Estrada prepared his back with oil, lit up a cotton swab and heated up the cups
before applying them to Rodriguez’s back.

“All nerves that lead to the different systems, different organs in the body, all of them come out of the spine,” Estrada said.

The heat creates more suction than the more often seen vacuum pumps,
and the cups stay on anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes.

“Think about when you get hit. What does your body do? It sends its healing abilities and it tries to send the best whenever you’re injured. So we’re actually telling the body (to) focus on this area to bring the best of the best to that area,” Estrada said.

Estrada told ABC-7 that the practice of cupping has several benefits.

“Increased circulation, increased mobility, (the ability) to reduce high blood pressure,” Estrada said.

He also told ABC-7 the therapy sedates the body and helps with anxiety and sleep.

Many ask whether it hurts. So ABC-7 reporter Jerry Najera tried the therapy.

“I got about 15 cups on my back; it’s not really hurting. I do feel some pressure, but it’s not painful, and as the time has gone by it’s actually feeling more relaxing,” Najera said.

Estrada understands that there will be naysayers about the therapy, but he has a message for them.

“I would say don’t put it down until you try it,” Estrada said.

Estrada said a cupping session costs $30 and can last 25 to 30 minutes. The frequency of the treatments depends on a persons ailments.

If you’re interested in the therapy Estrada works at Massage N’ Spirit located in central El Paso.